Average agent-GDS relationship: 18 years

The majority of travel agents continue to use the services of GDSs, citing airline content and functionality as the most important reasons to keep using them. But fixed-rate contracts with the GDSs are slowly being less used by agents in favour of no-minimum and productivity-based contracts, allowing for greater flexibility on when to use them. These are some of the findings of the just-released 2010 Global Distribution System Report, prepared by the American Society of Travel Agents. The report also says that the agent-GDS relationship is typically a very long one, the average lasting as long as 18 years. Contracts are usually renewed every three or four years. Travel Weekly[picture courtesy Seychelles Tourism Board]